Cal Signs Albina Syla For 2026-27 Season

The California women's basketball team has added junior transfer Albina Syla to its roster for the 2026-27 season, Cal head coach Charmin Smith announced Wednesday.

Syla, a 6-foot-5 center from Vantaa, Finland, is transferring to Cal from Rhode Island.

“I’m excited to bring someone with the size, length and skillset that Albina has to Cal,” Smith said. “She became a dominant force for her team last year in just her sophomore season and showed a lot of touch around the rim and a relentless effort to rebound the ball. I can’t wait to see her grow even further and make an impact here in Berkeley.”

Syla appeared and started in all 33 games for Rhode Island as a sophomore in 2025-26, helping the Rams win their first-ever Atlantic 10 tournament championship and earn their first NCAA Tournament appearance in 30 years. For her efforts, she was named the Atlantic 10 Tournament’s Most Outstanding Player after averaging 13.7 points and 10.0 rebounds over the three games. For the season, Syla averaged 9.2 points per contest and led the team with 7.1 rebounds per game. She also led the team with seven double-doubles and had career highs of 23 points against Duquesne and 14 rebounds versus Davidson in the semifinal round of the A-10 Championship.

In her freshman campaign during the 2024-25 season, Syla appeared in 19 games averaging 5.6 minutes, 1.8 points and 1.5 rebounds per contest. In high school, Syla played on the Finland National Team and averaged 8.9 points and 7.4 rebounds per game and was named the 2023 Nordic Championship All-Star 5 Player.

“I chose Cal because I wanted to be part of a program that pushes me to be great in everything I do, from the classroom to the court,” Syla said. “Coach Charmin has built an incredible culture here, and she’s a leader I really believe in. I know that playing for her will help me grow as a player and give me the tools I need to reach the professional level after college. I’m so excited to get started and help this team compete in the ACC.”